Daily Archives: April 9, 2015

What better to discuss than Inspiration? Indigestion? Incontinence? Illness? Wow I seem to be on a negative trend! Let’s take a deep breathe (Inhale) and talk about what Inspires us. In writing, in life

I was looking for a way to share this video for my Heroine blog yesterday but got bogged down. Today I found it on YouTube (YAAA You Tube!)

Not only is the message of “You CAN take care of yourself” valuable, (although running away is a much better option if you can!) But the blase expression on the part of the woman (IN HEELS!) is inspirational when it comes to building a self confident character.

Obviously I like to share music, especially when the songs help me tell a story. I don’t always hear the ‘in’ songs when they’re new. But they do come to my attention eventually. Like this one, from Canadian singer Dan Hill (my Canadian friends groaned when I asked if they’d heard of him…apparently a bit TOO MUCH):

Because…it’s beautiful, and it inspires me to keep writing about people who are afraid to reach out and dare to love  “Romance and all it’s strategies leaves me battling with my pride….” Oh yeah.

Seeing cross country jumps inspires me to start back riding horses, but then reality comes crashing down. Those days are in the past…but I can write about them, can’t I?

What inspires you?

H…just look at those proud uprights, arms in the air. That flash of VICTORY.

When I think of HEROINE in a book, I don’t mean the lovely, blushing virginal female who needs to be rescued after she did something incredibly stupid. (DON’T GO INTO THE SWAMP.) I’m thinking more of the female who goes into the swamp even when she’s afraid of mud, because she is needed.

From the 1990 film “Pretty Woman”: Edward Lewis: So what happens after he climbs up and rescues her? Vivian: She rescues him right back.

YES

For Vivian, Edward found the courage to dare heights. For Edward, Vivian found the courage to move on from her past and become the best she could be.

I write about people finding each other, often at the absolutely worst time. Romance. My heroes tend to be men who have seen too much, and suffer quietly. My heroines tend to be stubborn about taking care of themselves, and trying to protect. For Kendra, MY KILLER MY LOVE it was a sacred forest. For Bethany, TEACH ME TO FORGET it was the people whose stories could be so easily lost. For Sydney, A QUESTION OF HONOR it’s Devin, and Stormhaven.

I’m pretty proud of these heroines, and their stories. Then, I met KIMMER REED. Kimmer showed up in the Silhouette Bombshell line, September 2009. Kimmer didn’t wait around to be rescued, she took care of herself and those she cared about. When someone stepped over the line, she shot up his car (great visual, standing on top of his precious car and blowing his engine away) Here she is.

Yeah, one of DORANNA DURGIN’S HUNTER AGENCY books.

Now THAT’s a heroine!

Who are your favorite heroines?